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While many travelers are scoping out pristine coastlines for a spring to remember, National Geographic says you should make other plans in a city you’d least expect.
Rather than splurge on posh resorts and white-sand beaches, think down-home charm, sensational comfort foods, and the O.G. of live music as the ‘birthplace of rock ‘n roll’.
Home of the blues, mouth-watering barbecue, and contagious southern hospitality, National Geographic is giving ever-so-trendy Nashville the boot in favor of another Tennessee city, despite its questionable reputation.
Home to world-famous Beale Street, renowned barbecue joints, and a booming music scene standing the test of time, Memphis has been crowned the top spot in the U.S. to visit this spring.
When specifically? To answer that, famed Memphis resident Justin Timberlake has been trying to tell us all along with NSYNC’s popular hook, “it’s gonna be Mayyyyy”.
Memphis – Really?
Truth is Memphis is a classic southern staple, but you don’t hear about it very often as Nashville has taken over the South as the go-to spot for foodies, honkey-tonkers, and all-around music fans.
Memphis is mostly known for bar-lined Beale Street and exquisite barbecue eats speckled around the city (even though I personally recommend crockpot Frito Pie any time it’s on the menu).
While these attractions still hold true today, Memphis has taken on a new claim to fame it surely doesn’t want — one of America’s most crime-ridden cities.
Crime is one of those topics that can be fickle to report on. An accusation doesn’t equal a conviction. Conversely, the underreporting of crime makes it challenging to present accurate statistics.
For what it’s worth, U.S. News & World Report has Memphis ranked as America’s ‘most dangerous city to live in’, a ranking focused on residents, not tourists.
If you’re here to enjoy the delights of downtown and the wide-ranging barbecue scene, don’t sweat it. But the real concern is finding yourself in the crossfire of run-down neighborhoods, some of which I have passed through and can attest it’s not a place you want to ‘play stupid games, win stupid prizes’.
That being said, I love Memphis, but the real reason Nat Geo is hyping it up this spring is largely due to the fun festivities slated for Mayyyyy (sorry, it’s stuck in my head now).
New Attractions & Action-Packed Festivals
In a time where travel advisories are being issued left and right, it would be a tough sell to tell travelers to put safety on the back burner.
However, in the same breath, embracing hefty investments to make their city more welcoming should be appreciated and that’s exactly what Memphis has been up to.
There are numerous new hotels catering to visitors, but the most noticeable upgrade has to be the roughly $50 million transformation of riverfront Tom Lee Park, now offering new pavilions, sound gardens and the Canopy Walk — a scenic trail along the Mississippi River connecting downtown.
Better yet, this spring will look a little different as Memphis In May, an ever-changing event focusing on a different city each year will focus on South Korea.
Do I sense an epic southern/Korean barbecue fusion in the works?
Visitors can expect live music, barbecue competitions, and sporting events, including the Great American River Run.
Mark your calendars for May 14th – 17th for barbecue cook-offs and burn off the calories May 24th if you’re up for a 5k, 10k, or half-marathon.
In other words, you can easily spend a whole week in Memphis this May if your schedule allows without feeling like you have to visit the usual suspects of Graceland or the Memphis Pyramid, which, oddly enough, houses Bass Pro Shops — a lot less interesting than what was allegedly just found underneath Giza.
Where To Eat & Where To Stay
Instead of packing swimwear and sandals for a beach trip, maybe pack an extra shirt or two. Trust me, you’ll understand why Tim McGraw sang about barbecue stains once you taste Memphis’s ribs.
My favorite place to pig out on, well…pig…is none other than Rendezvous, a legendary Memphis staple.
According to Southern Living, these are the top 5 restaurants for Memphis barbecue:
- A&R Bar-B-Que
- The Bar-B-Q Shop
- Central BBQ
- Charlie Vergos Rendezvous (told ya!)
- Cozy Corner Restaurant
As for hotels, there’s no comparing Memphis’s iconic Peabody, but as mentioned before, there are some newbies on the scene worth considering:
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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